Law

Professor of Law

"As I start my 29th year as a member of the College of Law faculty, I feel truly blessed to be able to have the opportunity to earn a living doing what I love: engaging bright, energetic students who wish to become lawyers and help them reach their dreams. For me, teaching is akin to the thrill of having three jury trials a week and winning all three! Seeing the light bulb turn on for a student makes it all worthwhile!"

Profile

Professor Stephens was Dean of the College of Law from 1986 through June, 1992. He served as Associate Dean from 1981-1985 and as Interim Dean during the 1985-86 year. He received his B.A. from Western Kentucky University in 1972 and his J.D. from the University of Kentucky in 1975, where he was a member of the Kentucky Law Journal staff and Moot Court Board.

From October, 1978, to August, 1979, Professor Stephens was Special Assistant Attorney General and Staff Attorney for the Kentucky Department for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection. Prior to that, he spent two years as Assistant Counsel for the Louisville-Jefferson County Board of Health, and has 16 years in general trial and Environmental practice with the firms of Middleton, Reutlinger and Baird, Robinson & McElwee and Greenebaum, Doll & McDonald PLLC.

In 1996, he completed mediator training at the Harvard College of Law Program for Instruction of Lawyers. He is listed in Best Lawyers In America in the category of Alternative Dispute Resolution. He is a past President of the Kentucky Bar Foundation and past Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Center for the Resolution of Disputes, Inc.

His special interests are Alternative Dispute Resolution, Trial Advocacy, Administrative Law, and Evidence. He has taught Environmental Law, Evidence, Administrative Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Trial Advocacy, Mining Law and Clinical Legal Education. His writing interests include evidence, environmental law, mediation and administrative law issues.

Latest Publications

Why Are Plaintiffs Taking So Long to Respond? A Quick Peek into the Other Room, 1 Ohio Ass'n of Civil Trial Attorneys 17 (2008) (co-authored with Joseph T. modrino)
SSRN   

Preparing for Successful Mediations-Kentucky Style, 68 Ky Bench & Bar 21-25 (2004)

Evidentiary Uses for Environmental Agency Inspection Reports in Kentucky: The Dangers Posed by KRE 803(8), 18 J. Nat'l Resources & Envtl. L. 147 (2004)
Hein   

TMDL's for Nonpoint Sources In Kentucky: The Potential Impact Of Pronsolino v. Marcus, 16 J. Nat'l Resources & Envtl. L. 1 (2001) (co-authored with Monica Dias)
Hein   

Common Law Remedies for Petroleum Contamination in Kentucky, 14 Nat. Res. & Env. L. 1 (1998)
Hein 

View more publications